Packed With Pectin, Grapefruits are the Gift that Keeps On Giving
Packed into every delicious segment of our Texas red grapefruits are plenty of vitamins, minerals, and oils that can do a body good, but did
you know that grapefruits are also a great source of fiber?
Pectin is a soluble fiber that is found in some fruits including apples, plums, and–most importantly–the peel and membranes of grapefruit.
From our family at Winter Sweetz to yours, we want to share with you the benefits of pectin that you can receive from eating just one of our sweet, but never bitter, Texas reds.
How Pectin Can be Beneficial for You
While pectin is miles away from being considered a miracle cure, it does have a bevy of medicinal benefits.
For starters, pectin found in grapefruit can assist with cholesterol regulation. For those who suffer from high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), eating a grapefruit, along with its thin membranes separating the segments, can deliver maximum amounts of pectin geared at lowering bad cholesterol.
In addition, pectin is also known as a fat-burning food. Once pectin settles in the stomach, it turns into a gel-like consistency that can create a feeling of fullness for much longer.
Pectin has also been found to reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and it’s also beneficial for those with:
- Eczema
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Kidney Stones
Although the research is still in its infancy, recent tests have shown that pectin can reduce prostate, colon, melanoma, and leukemia cancers; however, no results were found regarding the shrinkage of tumors.
How to Make Your Own Pectin
Grapefruit pectin is perfect for those of us who love home canning, crafting jams and jellies, thickening milk-based sauces for delicious entrees, or making delectable fruit-based candies.
Follow these simple steps to ensure that you are extracting as much pectin from leftover peels and inner membranes as possible:
- Peel or grate the zest from the rinds of one Winter Sweetz Texas red grapefruit.
- Give them a coarse chop and place them in a pot with ½ a cup of lemon juice per pound of peels to soak for about an hour. Doing this weakens the chemical bonds that secure pectin within the grapefruit’s inner structure.
- Then, pour in about a quart of water per pound of peels into the pot and soak for another hour.
- Next, bring the pot to a boil. After 10 to 15 minutes of simmering, remove and let it cool down.
- Take a cheesecloth or jelly bag once the mixture has cooled and strain it. Be sure to refrigerate any leftovers.
Producing your own pectin is easy when you have our biggest and best Texas red grapefruits on hand.
Grapefruit season is almost here. Are you ready?
Winter Sweetz Texas red grapefruits go beyond simply unlocking all of the potential pectin possibilities. Not only are they healthy for us, they’re sweet and tasty too.
Experience the grapefruit revolution by picking up some of our delicious grapefruits at any authorized retailers, or have your grocer contact us at (956) 424-7775 to order some today.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE GRAPEFRUIT REVOLUTION.